Saturday, October 5, 2013

Anke-Eve Goldmann




Anke-Eve Goldmann was a journalist for Cycle World, Das Motorrad in Germany, Moto Revue in France and other international motorcycle magazines. Goldman was a friend of author Andre Pieyre de Mandiargues and the inspiration for the main character, 'Rebecca', in his most popular book The Motorcycle (1963). The book was adapted for the 1968 film The Girl on a Motorcycle starring Marianne Faithfull. From the 1950s, she competed in endurance and circuit racing, at the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring but being a woman, was barred from higher level competitions.
Goldmann taught German to airmen's children at a U.S. Air Force base in Germany.

She was the first woman to ride a motorcycle with a one-piece leather racing suit, made for her by German manufacturer Harro. She rode BMW motorcycles and became a spokesperson for the marque before buying an MV Agusta.  This lady had class, BMW and MV Agusta are two of the best motorcycles ever built. She was a true pioneer, riding and racing motorcycles when it was very unpopular for a woman to do such a thing.  I have always admired women who took stands and actually accomplish something with their lives.

In 1958, she helped found the Women's International Motorcycle Association in Europe.
She gave up motorcycling after the death of a close friend.